Trust hospitals to get property tax waiver

​Hyderabad: In a significant development, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister K T Rama Rao said his government had decided to waive of property tax for all trust-based institutions in the State, including Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital, in Hyderabad.

He said Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao did what three Chief Ministers could not do in the last ten years to waive of property tax on the cancer hospital. Rama Rao said he would never do anything to bring disrepute to former Chief Minister late Taraka Rama Rao’s name, which his father chose to name him after, because of his liking for the legendary actor-politician of yore.

The Minister was speaking after inaugurating Advanced BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) unit in the hospital on Thursday. He said his mother wanted him to do something for the hospital that was flocked by cancer patients from two Telugu States and hence night shelters were built, adding that if required, more such shelters would be built.

Rama Rao said the best way to control cancer was by sensitising the public and this was where celebrities could come forward and help the government's initiatives. Talking of celebrities involved in social activities, Rama Rao lauded actor Balakrishna and said the Tollywood hero had been extending great service to cancer patients for the last several years through this hospital.

The Minister also made a mention of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's decision to conduct cancer tests for people all over the State. Speaking on the occasion, Basavatarakam Hospital chairman and actor-cum-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna thanked the government for the decision to waive off property tax on the hospital.

He said they were striving to offer world class treatment to affected patients. It was due to the untiring efforts of the doctors and the medical staff the hospital got big name and fame, Balakrishna said.